16 feared dead in Kwara cults clashes

No fewer than 16 people were feared dead at the weekend in clashes of suspected cult members in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Though, the causes of the clashes could not be ascertained last night, it was gathered that suspected members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities clashed at an higher institution.

The Police said they arrested more than 30 suspects.

Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the arrests, added that 14 had been found culpable after screening.

Okasanmi said the 14 suspects would be charged to court this week.

It was gathered that one of the victims was gunned down during screening of aspirants for a Students’ Union Government’s election at the weekend. Another victim was reportedly killed at Asa Dam Road area of the town by suspected members of the Eiye confraternity.

An eyewitness account said the death triggered reprisals and a renewed clash among members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities, adding that it later spread to other parts of the metropolis, including: Agbooba, Baboko, Sabonline, Irewolede and Niger Road.

A resident of Niger Road said: “It all started around 4pm at the weekend. A victim who lived at Agbooba was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin.

“Another body was found at a popular hotel, on Sunday. One suspected cult member was murdered at Irewolede yesterday. The deceased was chased to the area and was matcheted by his assailants,” the source said.

A students’ leader, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed last night that there was a violent attack last Thursday, which left an unidentified student seriously injured.

But he denied knowledge of any reprisal attacks on the campus.

The student said: “I can confirm to you that there was an attack on campus last Thursday carried out by unidentified persons. We are still trying to know their identity.

“The attackers are on the run; the police and Department of State Services operatives are aware of the incident. The victim of the attack is not yet confirmed dead but he is seriously injured. He was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin.

“I cannot confirm if the Thursday incident led to any reprisal but there was no killing on our campus, Kwara Polytechnic. Although we heard about clashes in several areas, which are far away from the school, I can confirm none of our students was involved.”

Another student, who simply gave his name as Lateef, also confirmed the attack, saying it happened at Motion Ground.

He, however, could not give the name of the victim, but he said the attack may have led to several reprisals, which allegedly left more than 10 students died.